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The research paradigm – methodology, epistemology and ontology – explained in simple language

Published July 15, 2015 by Salma Patel

Last updated on November 13, 2019

I have put together this post to explain what a research paradigm is, which includes ontology, epistemology, theoretical framework and methodology, and why it is important for your research or PhD. It took me a while to understand this properly, and below is a summary of my understanding of the topic, which I hope will help you. I suggest you go easy on yourself (I was pulling my hair out on the second day). I would also love to be corrected if anything below is wrong (though as you are aware, there are so many disagreements amongst philosophers and epistemologists – there is no one right answer!). So, let’s get started …

What is a research paradigm?

According to Guba (1990), research paradigms can be characterised through their:A research paradigm is “the set of common beliefs and agreements shared between scientists about how problems should be understood and addressed” (Kuhn, 1962)

ontology – What is reality?

epistemology – How do you know something?

methodology – How do you go about finding it out?

The diagram below explains the above terms and the relationship between them:

If the above still doesn’t make things clear, don’t worry. I would now recommend you watch this video which explains the above in very simple terms, and explains the two major paradigms: positivism and constructivism.

Why is it important?

Your ontology and epistemology create a holistic view of how knowledge is viewed and how we can see ourselves in relation to this knowledge, and the methodological strategies we use to un/discover it. Awareness of philosophical assumptions will increase quality of research and can contribute to the creativity of the researcher. Furthermore, you will be asked about it in your viva and are expected to narrate it when you write up your research findings.

Which research paradigm does my research belong to?

In really simple terms, the three most common paradigms are explained below (and are shown in this epistemology diagram too, taken from here):

Positivists believe that there is a single reality, which can be measured and known, and therefore they are more likely to use quantitative methods to measure and this reality.

Constructivists believe that there is no single reality or truth, and therefore reality needs to be interpreted, and therefore they are more likely to use qualitative methods to get those multiple realities.

Pragmatists believe that reality is constantly renegotiated, debated, interpreted, and therefore the best method to use is the one that solves the problem

The table below (which I created) gives a more detailed overview of each paradigm (and contains subjectivism and critical too), and your own research paradigm could very well sit in between one of the paradigms. You could use a top down or a bottom up approach (Rebecca explains here) to decide where your research sits. In a bottom up approach, you decide on your research question, then you decide which methods, methodology, theoretical perspective you will approach your research from. In reality, I believe its probably neither strictly a top down or bottom up approach, you probably go back and forth till you find the right fit. I believe each research project would have a different research paradigm and hence a different theoretical perspective.

Table adapted from various sources, including Crotty (1998). Crotty left ontology out of his framework, and also didn’t include Pragmatism and Critical. But the assumptions underlying every piece of research are both ontological and epistemological.

Where does most social science research sit?

According to Eddie, and quoting directly, most social science sits into the following:

“1. Experimental (Positivist), with a more realist ontology (i.e. reality is out there), with an empiricist epistemology (i.e. and I’ll gather sense data to find it);

2. Postmodernist constructivism, with a less realist ontology (i.e. reality is just a load of competing claims), and a constructivist epistemology (i.e. and I’ll analyse those competing accounts to explore it)

Applied, then to social psychology, it is important to understand the tension, throughout its history, between:

1. A more traditional experimental (quantitative) approach, which sees social reality as a set of facts to be known for all time by measuring people in the laboratory;

2. A more critical, discursive (qualitative) approach, which sees social reality as mutually constructed between people in the real world.”

However, I must add that pragmatism (and hence mixed methods research) is also being increasingly used in social sciences.

What impact will my chosen paradigm have on my research?

It will have a huge impact. Let me give you an example of an interview based research that is constructivist:

“So as GP trainers, constructivism means that to understand our trainees and their learning, beliefs or behaviours we have to be aware of their experience and culture (the historical and cultural contexts) and recognise that they don’t just potentially see the world differently to us, but experience it differently too.” Source.

Useful reading and references

Texts I found useful:

Crotty, M., 1998. Foundations of social research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process. p.256.

Scotland, J., 2012. Exploring the philosophical underpinnings of research: Relating ontology and epistemology to the methodology and methods of the scientific, interpretive, and critical research paradigms. English Language Teaching, 5(9), pp.9–16.

[…] (method), however always theorise while I “do”. On pondering this I came across a blog by Salma Patel which had a summary table that helped with some of my reflection. My drawing reflects me (the […]

Thank you so much for the knowledge you shared for us who are working on research as I was confused about these long words but the explanation provided for each word and their meaning, enlightening myself in research terminology for words like epistemology, ontology, and many more. Thanks again and God bless .

Many thanks Salma. I’ve just begun my journey in doctorate research and the biggest learning curve so far is simply understanding academic language. Your explanation has made it all that much simpler. Brilliant – thank you!!

I re-read this information, and now I am now certain that I am locating my research in the correct paradigm of Pragmatism. So I am also using genealogy, which is part critical. Therefore, mixed methods.

Absolutely useful guidelines as I embark on my doctoral journey. I am busy with my research proposal and your post has come in handy and is helping me clarify my research methodology. Many thanks Salma.

What a great article and video! It was extremely helpful! I was reading the whole day a lot of shitty articles about the philosophy of research and couldn’t interpret it according to my research. Holistic and very useful materials. Thanks a lot!

I must confess that this post helped to lift the burden of understanding this process few hours to the before submission of my Mphil-PhD transfer report. This is absolutely resourceful Patel. Presented in such a manner that a layman can understand this process. Thanks once again as you have just saved a brother.

Ontology is let say What is AIDS and epistemology is finding how you find AIDS? So ontology is a topic and epistemology finding how you arrive with the knowledge. Ontology can be positivist or non-positivist, subjective and objective.

Thanks very much for this – after reading many text books and articles and still feeling lost, this was super helpful!!
One thing that i’m still not sure on though is where it is best to include your epistemological stance in the dissertation? Is it in the Analysis part of your methods? Or is it in Design as it is supposed to influence your whole study? I haven’t ever seen anyone reporting it in a journal article before so don’t have any insight into this, yet we are expected to include it ‘somewhere’. Any recommendations or thoughts would be much appreciated!

This is amazing, thank you so much – I’ve been trying to get my head around this for months and you’ve done such a great job of explaining it in ways that are easily understood. Why aren’t you my lecturer haha :'(

Hello,thank you so much saima,i am very happy that i found it the meaning of research paradigm.i have many learn about methodology and also thank you that you are sharing your knowledge with us.
God bless you saima patel!!!!

Thank you for helping us to know critical things in precise ;concise; and simple manner. honestly speaking it is crucial and insightful in doing of my assignment and i owed to acknowledges you ideas dully. How ever, I would like forward one question for you.Is there an instance in which two or more research paradigm may likely included in single research?

Thank you so much for creating this post Salma! I struggled with these concepts during undergrad, now that I’m completing my masters I had to get to grips with them, this post helped a lot and so did your recommendations for further reading 🙂

I came to this post seeking information to address an article reviewer’s request to restructure a methodology section that directly contrasted with the second reviewers’ request for the same article. this is not the first time this has happened. I wish all reviewers would read your article it is useful and clear. I certainly will keep it in mind for my own future reviews. Thanks.

Hi, thanks for the information. I have a question that maybe you or someone can help me with. If symbolic interactionism is influenced by pragmatism, how did it end up being a interpretist theoretical perspective? I get that pragmatism states to use the best methods possible, but is there any more information on this? Many thanks in advance

This is brilliant. I am currently writing my Methods chapter and was struggling to understand a lot of the philosophical underpinnings piece. What you have provided here is very clear and comprehensive. Thank you for sharing.

Salma, I have shared this with many researchers and students and keep coming back to it. It is really an invaluable post and you have done the academic community a great service in sharing it. Just wanting to say thank you. x

Salma, Thank you so much for your time, effort and sharing your knowledge. Your website is invaluable and has really helped me feel confident about starting my thesis, after feeling completely lost and hopeless. you are a genius!

[…] at the back of my mind. Ideally I should be able to clearly articulate to others what my research paradigm is, though I often find myself oscillating between different poles depending on the day of the […]

A well written article on the paradigms of research in social science. I found many insights regarding the topic. The tabular form is much interesting and comprehensive. thanks for sharing such information on one of the important aspects of conducting research in social science

I like the whole presentation, made things a little clearer
Question:
Where do i talk about the theoretical perspective and paradigm when it comes to developing the proposal. Which chapter and section?

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Thank you so much for your effort in explaining all the aspects about research in many forms. Your materials have really clarified all my confusion especially about the terms involved in research. I salute you for your intelligence and simplistic method of explaining research to those who are not well-versed about it. May the force be with you, man!

Salma, thank you so much for this scholarship of knowledge. I am just starting my Research Paradigm journey on what system (s) I will use for my Dissertation Research. I am not sure if it will be Qualitative, Quantitative or both. I’m Just diving in!

Hi Salma
Found this very helpful and it was referred to in a recent text on Community and Human Services. However my supervisor is not keen on me referring to a blog in my PhD. Just wondering if you have submitted this to peer reviewed journal. I am particularly interested in the sections on constructionism and pragmatism. I am using mixed methods with qualitative data based on phenomenological interpretation with quant data which I have got from an organisation.
Look forward to your reply! Mary